I love trying wines from new producers (new to me that is) so when the good people at Amathus Drinks recommended the Georges Michel collection I was intrigued.

If, like me, you thought this was another celebrity trying his hand at winemaking (George Michael? Just me then), you’d be very much mistaken. In a nutshell, Georges is a Frenchman who used to make wine in Burgundy and then moved his family to New Zealand in the 1990s. Since then he has established a thriving winery making some pretty cool wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, using skills acquired in the Old World, in a New World wine region. Georges’ daughter, Swan is now the head winemaker and is responsible for the four wines I recently tasted from their collection…

First up was the Domaine Georges Michel Golden Mile Sauvignon Blanc 2013 – made from grapes grown on prime Marlborough soil, this white is full of lime citrus and gooseberry flavours with a hint of elderflower and a racy acidity. Plunge this alongside the refreshing and strawberry-packed Summer Folly Rosé 2013 into an ice bucket and grab a few deckchairs and a plate of cured meats and you’ve got a perfect summer afternoon made! If you’re after a red, Golden Mile Pinot Noir 2010 is laced with sour cherry and sweet spice – delicious lightly chilled at a BBQ. For something a little more special, La Reserve Pinot Noir 2009 is earthy, serious and sure to impress your guests.

Ranging in price from £11.20 to £16.75, these wines are a little pricier than you might usually be prepared to pay, but they’re well worth the extra couple of pounds for a special summer treat.